Is Champs Sports Pub Still Open? Bar Rescue Update (Burbank, CA)
Current status
As of September 2026, Champs Sports Pub is listed open on Yelp, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.
Last verified
What the source shows: The bar's Yelp listing, last updated July 2026, carries no "permanently closed" marker and continues to accumulate reviews well over a decade after the Bar Rescue episode, consistent with the bar remaining open under its original name and ownership.
- Season / episode Season 1, Episode 8
- Original air date
- Address 4103 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
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What happened after Bar Rescue?
Champs Sports Pub had operated in Burbank, California since 1983, opened by former teacher Joe Handy as the area's first sports bar. By the time Bar Rescue arrived, Joe had stepped back from daily involvement, leaving finances to his wife Helen, and the business was about six months from closing. Recon visits found no beer list, bartenders who could not properly pour a draft, and kitchen output that the visiting chef found substandard, including a burger and nachos he could not recommend; the bar was also losing customers to newer, trendier competition that had opened in the area since Champs first opened.
The rescue's changes addressed both technical and cleanliness issues: an expert found sticky pour spouts, flies near the bar sink, and grease buildup in the kitchen creating a safety hazard; a mixologist and chef built a new drink and food menu together, while staff worked through a from-scratch retraining on service basics. No name change was made to the business. Jon Taffer's team also worked to re-engage Joe with the day-to-day operation, taking him to visit another successful sports bar as a model, and pushed Helen toward clearer staff communication and structure.
The bar's own website has since lapsed -- its old domain now redirects to a parked hosting page -- but its Yelp listing carried no "permanently closed" designation and continued attracting reviews into 2026, more than a decade after the show aired. Reviews describe a mix of positive and negative experiences over the years, with recurring praise for the bar's happy hour and televised sports-trivia nights alongside occasional complaints about food quality and slow service. The bar has also served as a filming location for other television and film productions, including an episode of Modern Family and the 2006 film You, Me and Dupree, and the 2004 film Slammed.
Featured on Bar Rescue
- Show
- Bar Rescue
- Original air date
- Episode title
- Chumps
- What was featured
- longtime sports bar's menu drink and cleanliness overhaul
- Role
- Featured restaurant
- Name on the broadcast
- Champs Sports Pub
Frequently asked questions
Is Champs Sports Pub still open in 2026?
As of September 2026, Champs Sports Pub is listed open on Yelp, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.
What happened to Champs Sports Pub after Bar Rescue?
Champs Sports Pub had operated in Burbank, California since 1983, opened by former teacher Joe Handy as the area's first sports bar. As of September 2026, Champs Sports Pub is listed open on Yelp, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.
Where is Champs Sports Pub located?
4103 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.
What season and episode of Bar Rescue featured Champs Sports Pub?
Season 1, Episode 8 of Bar Rescue, first aired September 11, 2011. The episode is titled “Chumps”.
Did the makeover last at Champs Sports Pub?
The episode first aired September 11, 2011. Our most recent check was September 7, 2026 — 15 years later —: As of September 2026, Champs Sports Pub is listed open on Yelp, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.
What do reviews say since Bar Rescue?
The bar's own website has since lapsed -- its old domain now redirects to a parked hosting page -- but its Yelp listing carried no "permanently closed" designation and continued attracting reviews into 2026, more than a decade after the show aired. We summarise what dated sources report; we do not publish our own rating.
Is Champs Sports Pub still using the Bar Rescue menu or branding?
The rescue's changes addressed both technical and cleanliness issues: an expert found sticky pour spouts, flies near the bar sink, and grease buildup in the kitchen creating a safety hazard; a mixologist and chef built a new drink and food menu together, while staff worked through a from-scratch retraining on service basics. Anything newer than our last check on September 7, 2026 may not be reflected here.
Every status on this site carries a confidence label and a date, and names the source it rests on. Read the Editorial & Corrections Policy for what each label means and how quickly we act on corrections. The questions above are generated from this record's own published fields — we never publish a question we cannot answer from the data.
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Visit info
- Address
- 4103 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
- Venue type
- bar
- Official website
- None found
- State hub
- TV restaurants in California
Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.
Sources
- realitytvupdates.com — https://realitytvupdates.com/bar-rescue/champs-sports-pub/
- Yelp — https://www.yelp.com/biz/champs-sports-pub-burbank
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Record br-008 · last verified .